Wednesday, September 27, 2006

The Passion behind the Geneva Conventions

The title of this commentary is dually fitted for such a discussion. The Passion behind the Geneva Conventions.

“The first Geneva Convention was signed in 1864 to protect the sick and wounded in war time. In 1929, two more Geneva Conventions dealt with the treatment of the wounded and prisoners of war. The Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property was signed in 1954, the United Nations Convention on Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Techniques followed in 1977, together with two Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, extending their protections to civil wars. (1 see note)”

The Conventions add civil parameters to war. Without such parameters, military options for governments such as torture and Nuclear bombardment would be acceptable.

In America, pride is taking in the Constitution which states that international treaties such as the Geneva Conventions are law.

The Conventions also state:

“All persons who do not take a direct part or who have ceased to take part in hostilities, whether or not their liberty has been restricted, are entitled to respect for their person, honour and convictions and religious practices. They shall in all circumstances be treated humanely (1 see note)”.

Millions firmly believe that Universal Human Rights should never be washed aside, most definitely NEVER by the government of United States of America.

The flag, the national anthem, the statue of liberty, the Constitution. All symbols of liberty, hope, and freedom which only the United Sates once was a shining beacon of.

Imagine this scenario: you are arrested, you are given no reasoning nor charge. You are afforded no rights, no hearing, no trial, no habeas corpus. Torture may be used upon you. And I ask you, also ask your family, how long would such treatment be acceptable?

The United States government is currently engaged in such a scenario.

This is where the Passion behind the Geneva Conventions is derived from. In my eyes, simple rights belong to all people: American or not.

There are those, many calling themselves Conservatives that ask why we should care about the rights of those in other countries. (Nevertheless American citizens allegedly linked to terrorism).

Well America cared about Rights and the dignity of Life during World War II. America cared about Rights and the dignity of all Life during Kosovo. I ask these so called ‘conservatives (with a little “c”) why not care about Rights and the dignity of life during your War on Terror?